You Can Only Install Apps From The Windows Store In Windows 10

Are you getting the You can only install apps from the Windows Store message on your Windows 10 computer when trying to install a downloaded application?

Well! You got this message when installing an application outside the Windows Store onto your computer. Since the Creators Update, your Windows 10 PC will prevent all apps that you download from outside Windows Store from installing.

This limited installation will help to keep your computer safe and reliable. However, you don’t need to worry as this isn’t a permanent restriction. It’s just a feature with options, which you can quickly adjust.

Turn Off You Can Only Install Apps From The Windows Store Feature In Windows 10

If you have used a Mac before, you will know this feature is similar to Gatekeeper in macOS. In Windows 10, this feature is enabled by default.

You can change or turn off this restriction by accessing the Settings app. Go to System -> Apps and features.

Then switch from the current option to other ones. There are three options you can select:

Allow apps from anywhere.

Prefer apps from the Store, but allow apps from anywhere.

Allow apps from the Store only.

By changing from the “Allow apps from the Store only” option to the “Allow apps from anywhere“, or “Prefer apps from the Store, but allow apps from anywhere“, the restriction will be disabled.

Image credit: Vitor Mikaelson @vitorgrs

You will be able to install any downloaded apps without getting the You can only install apps from the Windows Store message.

Many users think this feature is annoying. However, it helps to make your computer safe and gets rid of unauthorized application installations.

In my opinion, I would recommend enabling this feature on your Windows 10 PC to block installing apps from outside the Store.

You only need to turn it off when you need to. All third-party apps that are already installed on your PC will still work fine, without any issues. This feature only prevents apps from installing, not from running.

I know that this feature won’t help your PC be completely safe. However, that’s better than nothing, right?